IT?S not just Filipinos wracking their brains on who will emerge triumphant when Manny ?The Pacman? Pacquiao steps in the ring against Erik ?El Terrible? Morales tomorrow at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas Nevada.
Most analysts at Ringtalk.com, though, now tend to favor 27-year-old Pacquiao over the 30-year-old Mexican boxer.
The fighter from General Santos City has logged a win-loss-draw record of 42-3-2 with 33 knockout wins, while Morales has 48 wins and four losses with 34 knockout victories.
Pacquiao, who lost in their first encounter in March last year, leveled their grudge fight last January, to forge a decider in ?The Grande Finale,? which is expected to draw 700,000 pay-per-view buys.
Ringtalk.com writer Pedro Fernandez, who is also a radio talk host, said in an article that the southpaw from General Santos City has gotten better, while Morales has regressed.
He added that he expects Manny to stop Erik within seven rounds while Morales? only chance is to win by points in the super featherweight match.
?Mismatch?
Cliff Rold, a staff writer of Ringtalk, considers it a ?mismatch.?
?I’m having trouble seeing this as a competitive fight. That’s because ultimately this is about a great fighter rising to new heights against a great fighter who doesn’t look able to attain the heights again,? he wrote at ringtalk.com.
Pacquiao, though, is likely to be more under pressure to win, according to sports writer Edwin Espejo, in a report posted in Sun.Star General Santos last Monday.
But whoever wins or loses, the Pacquiao-Morales III has been both considered “Fight of the Year” candidates, according to www.hbo.com?which will broadcast a live pay-per-view.
Exciting
Top Rank Promotions chairman Bob Arum said at HBO Boxing that Morales is determined to win but is anxious to take on Pacquiao for the third time.
“These two great champions have always given it their all, each and every second in the ring, especially against each other. I expect this third fight to be the most exciting of the trilogy?and that’s saying something!” he said at the HBO Boxing reports. (JAF)
